Bird Flu Response

15 July, 2026

The welfare of our animals, our team and our visitors is our highest priority. That's why Willowbank has developed a comprehensive response plan in the event that bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI H5N1) enters New Zealand.

The precautions outlined in our plan are designed to escalate in line with the level of risk, helping to protect the birds in our care and minimise the potential for transmission into, within and beyond the reserve.

As a precaution, we have already implemented enhanced biosecurity measures for team members who work closely with our bird collection. While the risk of HPAI H5N1 reaching Willowbank remains low, these measures form an important part of our commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of the birds in our care and reducing any potential risk to other avian populations, should HPAI ever be detected at Willowbank.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow the latest guidance from the Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and our veterinary partners.